Free Kick

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE — For 40 frenzied minutes, the St. Francis High and Servite boys' soccer teams battled back and forth. From a demolition derby disguised as a soccer game, they emerged. After having combined for six goals in those final 40 minutes, a slew of yellow cards and myriad cheers and jeers, it was Servite left celebrating a 4-2 CIF Southern Section Division I second-round victory at Friedman Field. And it was St. Francis left to wonder what might have been.

LA CRESCENTA — There was a statement made by the Crescenta Valley High girls' soccer team on Friday. Back dropped by a slew of subplots, the Falcons' foremost objective against archrival Arcadia was keeping hold of first place. With a dominating 3-0 victory at Crescenta Valley High, the Falcons kept a firm hold on first and made an emphatic declaration that the Pacific League is no doubt theirs to lose. "We are the team to beat, that's how it's going to be the rest of the season," said Crescenta Valley senior defender Sammie Wright, who was one of three different Falcons to tally a goal.

BURBANK — Danny Cardenas wouldn’t call it perfect. But Crescenta Valley High girls’ soccer Coach Reggie Rivas did. And most that were cheering Cardenas’ exploits in the 52nd minute of Friday afternoon’s battle for the Pacific League title would likely call it a perfect shot as well. Regardless, it was most assuredly the most important shot taken on Friday, as the senior midfielder blasted a free kick from 22 yards out that found the back of the net and led the Falcons to a 2-0 victory against Burbank that claimed Crescenta Valley’s second consecutive league crown.

PASADENA - Given a second shot, Hoover High sophomore Tyra Williams and her Tornadoes didn't miss. The midfielder knocked in a floating 30-yard free kick for the lone goal Tuesday afternoon as Hoover defeated host Blair, 1-0, in nonleague play. "I didn't think I was going to make it at all," Williams said. "I just took the kick and hoped it would bounce in front of the goalie, but it went over and in. " Williams' game-winning shot in the 75th minute was taken as Vikings' goalie Amy Castillo was playing somewhat forward in the crease during the attempt.

BURBANK — More than halfway towards a repeat of its Dec. 17 scoreless tie against host Burroughs High, the Crescenta Valley girls' soccer team finally broke out with some offense in the second half on Wednesday. And, while Cassandra Orozco's header off a corner kick in the 51st minute and Mallory Carcich's 35-yard free kick in the 68th minute were enough to keep the Falcons in first place in the Pacific League, Crescenta Valley's continued reliance on set pieces left Coach Jorden Schulz less than thrilled overall with the win. "Set pieces are good to be good at, but I'm usually not very satisfied if we don't get a score in regulation," said Schulz, whose team's two goals in its 2-2 tie with Burbank on Friday also came on a corner kick and a free kick.

Hamlet Nalbandyan GLENDALE SPORTS COMPLEX -- The Crescenta Valley High boys' soccer team has been critisized for being a one-dimensional team this season. Thursday, the Falcons quieted the critics. CV played a great team game but had to settle for a 1-1 tie against Arcadia High in a Pacific League match at the Glendale Sports Complex. CV was leading 1-0, but Arcadia, the league's top team, tied it in the 67th minute. However, Falcons outplayed the Apaches in most aspects, getting to more loose and having more scoring chances.

NORTHEAST GLENDALE - Plenty of scoring chances came the way of the Glendale Adventist Academy boys' soccer team in a Liberty League game against Yeshiva Wednesday. The problem was those chances didn't translate to goals for the Cougars. Yeshiva, on the other hand, was able to turn a number of set pieces into goals and walk out of the Glendale Sports Complex with a 4-1 win. "We had full control of it, but we lost in the end," Glendale Adventist Coach Joe Sanchez said. "I think that we can improve.

LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE - For a St. Francis High soccer team that's been down on its luck for most of the season, getting a hard-fought scoreless tie against Mission League-rival Harvard-Westlake on Wednesday might have felt just as good as a win. One can only wonder then how the Golden Knights felt following the Wolverines' stunning game-winning goal inside the final minute of extra time that sent St. Francis to a 1-0 league-opening loss at...

NORTHEAST GLENDALE ? Believe it. The Holy Family soccer team will make a postseason appearance in mid-February. The Gaels learned they will compete in the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs after they recorded a 1-1 tie against Bishop Conaty-Loretto on Thursday in a Horizon League match at the Glendale Sports Complex. It will mark the first time that the Gaels ? who are assured no worse than second place in league ? have qualified for the postseason since the program began in 2000.

Peter Samore FRIEDMAN FIELD -- It was a pretty quiet Thursday evening for St. Francis High goalkeeper Sean O'Connor. Thanks to his team's defense, O'Connor didn't see too much work against Chaminade High in a Mission League boys' soccer match at Friedman Field. The Eagles were allowed just six shots, and only one on goal with three minutes left, as the Golden Knights won, 3-0. Chaminade's late shot was its only attempt in the second half, when O'Connor got his only save.